After three busy and totally fun days at the PGA Merchandise Show, I’m back in Cali. I put together a daily recap for the PGA TOUR, which you can check out here, but here is a little more depth on a few things that caught my eye on the apparel side.
J.Lindeberg x Bespoken Capsule Collection
What have you seen that you really like? Who is doing something different? Those were the two questions I was asked most often over the three days, and the J.Lindeberg x Bespoken collaboration was at the top of the list.
For Autumn/Winter 2014, J.Lindeberg launched its first luxury golf capsule collection that pulled inspiration from the high-fashion side of the house. For Autumn/Winter 2015, JL has teamed up with Bespoken, a New York menswear label, to create another stunning luxury golf collection. If you are unfamiliar with Bespoken, just know that they were awarded the Best New Menswear Designer Award in 2013 by GQ.
The 12-piece capsule collection was inspired by the English mod style of the 1960s and it brilliantly blends classic patterns (glen plaid tartans) and refined fabrics (Loro Piana stretch wool) with contemporary details (taped seams). The result is a collection that bridges the gap between high fashion and function while also providing an air of sophistication.
More to come on this.
Devereux Paris @ Night Collection
Pop the champagne. Break out the caviar. Devereux’s Paris @ Night Collection is a winner in our book. This collection for AW15 features some ‘couture’ details, like rounded club collars, hidden plackets and button-down collars, and cut-and-sew designs that pay tribute to Paris’ high-fashion scene.
More than anything, though, we are diggin’ the color palette that includes a gothic purple, an energetic French blue (or bleu, if you prefer), a steely grey, a navy blue and black.
The Newcomers
G/FORE
G/FORE isn’t new to the golf market, but it is new to the apparel game. The label’s colored gloves have been the choice of fashion-conscious golfers, and its shoes and socks have been a breath of fresh air in the footwear category.
At the PGA Merchandise Show, G/FORE not only created a stir with a pair of mannequins that needed to ‘get a room’, but also with the introduction of a new range of cotton polos and wool knitwear.
G/FORE’s debut apparel collection allows golfers to dial their looks up or down with a mix of classic solids, powerful color blocked pieces and trendy camo patterns. Vibrant pinks, bright reds, deep purples and grassy greens pop against a backdrop of traditional navy blues, greys and black. G/FORE’s Autumn 2015 Collection is a must-try when it hits retail starting July.
AG Green Label
AG, famous for its designer denim, announced that it was entering the golf apparel market earlier this month with the creation of AG Green Label and the signing of Camilo Villegas. At the PGA Merchandise Show, the brand launched its Spring 2015 Collection and introduced its Autumn/Winter 2015 Collection. Quite the month.
Designer, Alexander Dimitrijevic, walked me through the latter, which features a very clean, modern aesthetic and rich color palette to help golfers stand out for the right reasons. The range of polos includes 100% pima cotton, cotton/poly blends and 100% polyester. Faux collars, 50s style merino wool polos, open weaves for ventilation and Japanese technical fabrics are some of the unique things that AG Green Label is bringing to the fairways.
State Apparel
State Apparel was a newcomer at the PGA Merchandise Show, but was not a newcomer to us. We interviewed founder Jason Yip and reviewed the brand’s shirts and pants last fall.
State Apparel’s clothing is probably the most unique in the world of golf apparel. The shirts and pants have wiping panels integrated into the design, allowing players to clean their hands, clubs, and golf balls right on their shirts and pants. To date, State Apparel has produced pieces in classic colors. However, its Golden Gate Collection, which hits this summer takes it up a notch (or two) with modern color blocked and printed polos. The navy pants look sweet, too.
The Big Boys
Nike Golf
Nike’s focus for 2015 is all about lightweight fabrics, maximizing range of motion and offering comfort in a variety of conditions. So, what will Tiger and Rory be wearing?
Look for Tiger to sport classic pieces in 2015 with a lightweight, super stretchy knit on the front of his shirts. In talking with Merritt Richardson from Nike Golf’s apparel team, I learned that Tiger prefers a snap placket, laser perforated collars, the kimono chassis for range of motion and taping down the spine and at the shoulders to give him a sense of where he is at address. Nike also designed the Cypress 1/2 Zip Cover Up for Tiger that has shield properties for wind and water resistance. The most unique aspect of this cover up, though, is the collar, which has a different shape than what we have seen in the world of golf. It was actually inspired by a baseball jacket to eliminate distraction at the neckline.
Rory McIlroy teed it up in Abu Dhabi a couple of weeks ago and we liked what we saw. Rory is definitely more fashion forward than Tiger and he has a strong understanding of how golf apparel should be tailored. Rory’s showcase polo for 2015 is Nike’s Major Moment Polo, which is constructed with an engineered 3-D knit and Dri-FIT fabric. Two of the details we really like on the ribbed collar of this polo is the ventilation that has been worked into the design and collar stays that Nike has included to keep the collar from rolling.
Rory’s cover ups got a lot of attention at the Open Championship last summer, and Nike has kicked up the design for this year with engineered knit sleeves for range of motion and venting on the sides and back.
Keep an eye out for this blue force color, too. It looks sharp.
Looking ahead to fall, Puma’s warming story is Power Warm, which features a unique ceramic-based print that traps body heat in the print and returns it back to the body. Puma says this technology can increase your microclimate by as much as 4 degrees celsius.
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